Mr. Lucas, an aging man with an enduring passion for Greek culture, is on a journey to Greece, seeking not just to explore the landscape but to rekindle a sense of youth and vitality. Despite his enthusiasm, he is conscious of his mental decline and impending loss of independence. Though his journey through Athens and Delphi leaves him feeling underwhelmed, this dissatisfaction stirs an unusual restlessness within him, contrasting sharply with his customary stoic demeanor.

An Unexpected Discovery

While traveling through Messenia, a picturesque province along the coast to the southeast of Athens, Mr. Lucas rides ahead of his companions on a mule. He reaches a quaint country inn nestled among a grove of majestic plane trees, where the group intends to stop for lunch. To his astonishment, he sees water trickling across the road, originating from a massive, hollow plane tree that towers over the inn.

A Spiritual Awakening

The sight of the tree and its mysterious spring revives some of Lucas's lost confidence. Intrigued, he ventures inside the hollow tree to uncover the source of the water. Inside, he finds that the tree's interior, home to the spring, has been converted into a whimsically adorned shrine. The surroundings, the gentle flow of water, and the people inhabiting the inn bring Lucas a profound sense of spiritual peace. He decides he wants to stay there, feeling a harmonious connection with his environment and anticipating a life-changing experience. Although the renowned sites of Greece have failed to move him, this secluded spot captivates him deeply.

Resistance to Change

When his traveling companions arrive, they are equally charmed by the location. Lucas suggests to his daughter, Ethel, that they extend their stay by a day, to which she teasingly suggests a week, displaying rare enthusiasm. Lucas, however, takes her suggestion earnestly. Their guide, Mrs. Forman, who previously likened Lucas to Oedipus and Ethel to Antigone, dubs the spot Colonus, referencing the mythical site where Oedipus met his end. She opposes a delay, claiming it would disrupt their travel plans. Ethel, upon assessing the inn's inadequate facilities, decides they must continue their journey for her father's sake. Despite Lucas's strong objections, Arthur Graham, Ethel's fiancé, helps place him back on his mule. They press on, ignoring the innkeeper's family's desperate attempts to persuade them to stay.

A Return to Routine

Several months later, in his London apartment, Mr. Lucas sits at breakfast with Ethel, engrossed in drafting a letter of complaint to his landlord. He is plagued by numerous disturbances: music from a neighboring apartment, nocturnal street noise, and the incessant gurgle of water in the pipes overhead. Ethel remains indifferent to his grievances. She is preoccupied with her upcoming marriage to Mr. Graham and the imminent arrival of her Aunt Julia, Lucas's unmarried sister, whom he dreads. Julia is to move in to oversee his care.

A Reminder of Fate

Unexpectedly, a package arrives from Greece, containing asphodel bulbs sent by Mrs. Forman. The bulbs are encased in an old Greek newspaper, which Ethel begins to read. The paper, dating back to their trip, includes a report on the tragic demise of the Rhomaides family, the inn's proprietors. It recounts how the plane tree had fallen upon the inn, killing its residents as they rested on the balcony. Ethel realizes that the accident occurred on the very evening they considered staying. She points out to her father the fortuitous nature of their timely departure, yet Lucas, absorbed in his letter, acknowledges nothing.